Rudy to the rescue

Published
4:00 am PDT, Sunday, September 23, 2001

Less than two weeks ago, Mayor Rudy Giuliani was a lame duck with a short fuse. None of his speeches were destined for the history books. On Sept. 11, New Yorkers were going to the primary polls to pick a replacement for him.

But in the wake of disaster, Giuliani has remade himself. Calm, soothing and omnipresent, he gracefully embodies his city's power to endure. Dust- covered and soft-spoken, he traversed the Manhattan dead zone, congratulating exhausted firefighters, holding hands with grieving families and tracking rescue efforts. He became a stand-in leader for every corner of America dazed by the terrorist attacks.

In an ordeal that included thousands of personal stories, Giuliani's saga is exceptional. Before the attacks his two terms as mayor were politely described as "contentious." He feuded, criticized and warred with half the town. One predecessor, Ed Koch, wrote a book: "Giuliani: Nasty Man."

None of it matters anymore. When the first plane hit, the mayor rushed to the World Trade Center. As debris and dust rained down, he dashed underground to safety. He emerged to direct rescue efforts while breaking the hard news to the world.

He shed tears on the news while describing the slim odds of finding survivors. Right from the start, he warned New Yorkers against reprisals against Muslims and Arab Americans. "We are above that," he said. If he could run again, he'd win in a walk.

This past week, he moved on to boost rebuilding. Alternating trademark police and fire caps, he took dignitaries from the U.S. Senate along with the leaders of France and Great Britain through the ruins. Yes, his town took a huge hit, but it's time to rebuild. New Yorkers need to "do things to show you're not afraid."

Authentic feeling is rare in rehearsed politics. When the city most needed a leader, New York's mayor responded with the genuine article: a compassionate and commanding presence.